[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method":3,"chapter-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-343":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1633421,2099,"Chapter 343: This Human Doesn’t Kneel","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-343",343,"\u003Cp>Garion smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course I’m not ordinary,\" he said, spreading his hands slightly. \"I’m a human standing in the demon world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his arm and pointed straight at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now,\" he continued calmly, \"it’s your turn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His finger shifted from Zathrek to Morveth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time to die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, the road fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Morveth did not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only watched Garion closely, eyes sharp and unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You really are bold,\" Morveth said at last. \"To speak like this as a mere human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zathrek,\" he said. \"Kill him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s lips curved into a cruel smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Count Morveth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash drifted more heavily from his body as he stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped a few steps from Garion and looked down at him with clear contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Human,\" Zathrek said. \"You are strong. Strong enough to walk freely in the demon world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one clawed hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But blocking our path,\" he continued, \"and revealing yourself like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took another step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now,\" he said, \"you will pay for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion tilted his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pay for it?\" he repeated. \"Please.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don’t even know who’s going to win yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek laughed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course it’s me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash around his body surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ash Ruler’s Pressure]was activated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air thickened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash spread across the ground, crawling toward Garion’s feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure of authority slammed outward, heavy and suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lesser demons in the escort dropped to one knee without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bow,\" Zathrek commanded. \"Now bow to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated[Edict of Submission]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Garion only blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked back at Zathrek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Did you do something?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion frowned slightly and shifted his footing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t feel anything,\" he said. \"Was that supposed to work?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash thickened further as he pushed more power into the skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a mere human,\" Zathrek snarled. \"You should be kneeling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already told you,\" he said. \"I’m not a mere human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m a goddamn human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zathrek could react, Garion moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion rushed forward and drove his fist straight into Zathrek’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact echoed across the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s body flew backward, ash scattering violently as he slammed into the ground several meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek coughed and slid to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash swirled around his body, forming a thick defensive layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The armor absorbed the worst of the blow, but the shock still rattled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed himself up slowly, eyes burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So you rely on brute force,\" Zathrek growled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Garion with pure hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion rolled his shoulder once and relaxed his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" he said with a grin. \"Now we’re finally getting somewhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spread his arms slightly, ash pouring off his body like smoke spilling from cracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground beneath his feet darkened, and the air grew thick and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ashbound Dominion]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine ash exploded outward in a wide circle, swallowing the road, the broken stones, and Garion himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash clung to everything it touched, coating armor, skin, and weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana in the air turned sluggish, as if it was being dragged down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek lifted his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you are inside my territory,\" he said. \"Every breath you take drains you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion looked down at his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash covered his sleeves and hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It crawled over his shoulders and chest, trying to sink into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brushed at it once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That’s it?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s brow twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought it would hurt more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without warning, Garion rushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground cracked under his feet as he closed the distance in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So reckless,\" he muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised both arms as the ash around his body thickened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Corrosive Ash Mantle]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash compressed into a dense layer, covering his torso and limbs like living armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hissed faintly, eating away at mana and energy around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion’s fist slammed into Zathrek’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact echoed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek was pushed backward, his feet carving lines into the ground as he slid several meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash armor absorbed most of the blow, but the force still shook his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped and straightened slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash fell away in clumps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek looked down at Garion’s fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skin around Garion’s knuckles was slightly darkened. Ash clung to it, sizzling faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\" he said. \"Your body corrodes the longer you touch me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion glanced at his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Oh. That’s annoying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook it once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash cracked and fell off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s smile faltered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one hand sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ash Shackles]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash surged up from the ground and wrapped around Garion’s arms, legs, and waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bindings tightened instantly, digging in and pulling him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion’s movement stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek let out a breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There,\" he said. \"Struggle all you want. The more you move, the tighter...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion looked down at the bindings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he flexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ash groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks spread across the shackles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash swirled violently around him as he formed weapons midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long, sharp shapes took form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek thrust his hand forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spears launched at Garion from every direction, piercing through the ash-filled air with force meant to tear and drain at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the spears reached him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply broke apart, crumbling into useless ash before they could touch his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shackles around Garion’s body fell apart next, unable to hold their shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zathrek stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Impossible,\" he whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garion stepped forward, ash sliding off his body as if it had never mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Zathrek and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that all?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, Count Morveth narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no longer a Baron testing a challenger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Baron realizing, too late, that his authority meant nothing here.\u003C\u002Fp>",1015,"2026-06-06T11:12:18.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","c9a7fbee644e206eda2a582d7c5a31791051982d623317858eaad9417e2ba435","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-344","heretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-chapter-342",613,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheretic-trainer-the-gym-is-my-cultivation-method-cover.jpg"]